Please help

[OKDem08]

Blue in a red state.
Sane in an insane environment.
I am so sad.
Ostracized personally and professionally.
What shall we do?

[Davion]

1. Move.

To Cal-i-FOR-nia (that's what I did). From Dobson Country. Never regretted it. :)

[OKDem08]

3. Thank you...we are contemplating that

either NE or CA--we simply don't belong where we were born & raised.
I wonder, are there any others who did so post the Kerry-Bush election and how are they faring?

[Davion]

5. Well I must be honest....

As a gay man, I left Colorado Springs as a REPUBLICAN, who could no longer deal with the anti-gay sh...stuff. Came here (San Diego.. the conservative section of California) in 2000. I even (sorry) voted for Bush that year. But being around people who didn't judge me instantly for being a homo and realizing how wrong I was in many of my views, I ACTUALLY CONVERTED!

So, from a former GOP guy who switched sides based on new surroundings, I think you might do OK. (No pun inteded)

[OKDem08]

6. Davion, thanks!

I just wonder about the variance in housing prices. We have a 1800 sq ft home which we paid $96K for 7 yrs ago...wonder what is comparable in CA? We are willing to go considerably less, based upon principles, if necessary.

[Davion]

7. Again, to be honest

I live in the "gay ghetto", meaning the part of town that nobody USED to want to live in, until the queers fixed it up, but now an 1100 sq ft house sells for about $500,000. If you want to buy here, even in the suburbs, the best you can hope for is $300K.

So I rent.

But like I said, happy as a clam.

[OKDem08]

8. gasp!!!

$300K???
That makes me reconsider my misery or happiness scenario. I would so love to live in a more diverse area but I wonder...are salaries so much greater in CA to make up the difference?

[Davion]

9. Just start looking.

Keep in mind, the reasons I chose San Diego were:

1. The Weather
2. The Beach
3. The Weather
4. The Cute guys
5. The Weather
6. The lack of anti-gay bigots
7. The Weather

It's ALWAYS between 65 and 75 degrees here. That means EVERYONE wants to live here. I can't afford to buy, so I rent. But Gol-darn it, I love the weather.

This is, apart from downtown San Francisco, the most expensive place to live outside of New York. If you want to live in a blue area, there are many choices, hell even the state of Texas has Austin, a relative blue-stater paradise, but the problem is that we (the educated-elites) tend to make more money, so the places we want to live cost a bit more.

My advice... Do what I did. Travel around (on a shoestring budget) and find a city that actually makes you feel comfortable.

You'll know it when you find it. Then, cost won't matter as much, because you'll finally be happy.

[OKDem08]

10. Davion, bless you!

That is exactly what we have planned! Our 1st trip to DC was for the anti-war protest and was the only time we saw same sex couples
publicly out and not afraid to show it! I applaud that; however, I think it will take another generational change for that to be acceptable to the general populous where I live.

[Davion]

11. Thanks

You'll find us all over. :) Like I said, just find a place that feels right. Of course, as a gay guy who rents, I don't need to worry so much about good schools and property taxes. :)

But I wish you the best.... Time for me to sleep now.

Good night, and good luck.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

13. Come to Tallahassee

Housing costs are still very reasonable. You can sell that home for a whole lot more than 96 K.

There is one community, in particular, Southwood, that is totally planned and very, very energy efficient, well designed, etc.

This is a community with two big universities and the state government. While there are plenty of Southern Baptists around you will find an active and welcoming gay community and an environment of live and let live.

Plus you will have the joy of watching Jeb Bush go down. Well, actually, his term is over, but we are ripe for a decent Dem.

But it is god-damned hot.

If you come, look me up!

And I'm sorry you are feeling so low. Get out of the house and do something fun today.

[AtomicKitten]

2. Feel proud that your personal integrity

makes it impossible for you to "get along" in your environment. And then seek out non-Republicans in your state to commune with. Clark won in Oklahoma in the primary; look up his base there. You are not alone. You always have DU to connect with, of course. And celebrate every chink in the armor that goes down, starting with Delay, in the GOP Wrecking Machine.

[OKDem08]

4. Thank you, AK

feeling lonely tonight....DU is my only connection w/humanity.
Thanks again

[acmejack]

12. Take a look in Austin

We're closer, we're blue and I think you just might like it here.

[i_c_a_White_Ghost]

14. And don't get so damn down

There are more of us than you think.